Monte Cristo: Australia’s most haunted house

by Jamie Rhein on

When I was poking around to find a haunted house tour on You Tube–I don’t have the time to actually go to one–I found this one of a house that is spooky enough to give anyone the willies. The music is perfect. That droning organ music that is mixed with rattles and wind whooshes made me a bit antsy by the end. And, the setting really put me on edge. My dog just shook herself and I jumped. Seriously, I’m not lying. The filming is a perfect creep out.

Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, Australia is said to be Australia’s most haunted house. Throughout the video, Mrs. Aussie Bear, who created it, includes heading titles that highlight the details of just what awful thing happened in each spot of the house. It’s said to be haunted by the ghost of Mrs. Crawley, one of the owners who only left the house twice in the 23 years after her husband died. Here’s a link from the homestead’s website that highlights some of the mysterious happenings.

The house is open for tours every day but Christmas.

Visiting an American embassy, Simpsons style

by Neil Woodburn on


I just had to stop and laugh at this short portrayal of what it’s like (sort of) for American citizens to visit an American embassy while abroad. Admit it, Homer is simply acting out everything that runs through your head when crossing that international threshold and stepping into your country’s embassy. Oh, and hats off to the Marine. Gotta love those guys!

Who owns Antarctica?

by Catherine Bodry on

According to a report from Reuters, Britain plans to submit a claim to the United Nations to extend its Antarctic territory by a million square kilometers. However, the claim could cause tension between Britain and a few South American countries — Argentina is working on a proposal to the U.N. which covers the same territory. The British claim also conflicts with the spirit of 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which prevents all exploitation of oil, gas, and minerals, other than for scientific research.

May 13, 2009 is the deadline for claims that will divide up 7 million square kilometers (the size of Australia). Russia, Australia, France, and Brazil are among the few that have made claims thus far.

Journey Girl and Melburnalia: Theatrics on Flinders Lane

by Kelly Amabile on

Ahhh, the stories I have to share about my recent two-month stay in Melbourne. It’s such a fantastic place. But until I get my arse in gear and bring those tales your way, let me at least suggest one spot you should check out if you’re headed to the Victorian capital in the near future:

fortyfivedownstairs is an art space located on fabulous Flinders Lane in Melbourne’s central business district. The venue features a constant lineup of cool exhibits and theatrical performances. Two of their upcoming productions are travel related, so I felt obliged to let ya know about them straight away:

Beginning October 24, the theater will showcase a one-woman Australian musical called The Journey Girl. Emma Caldwell plays Annie, “an adventurous young Aussie woman attempting to conquer the world with nothing more than a backpack and a map.” Next up is Melburnalia, which debuts on November 1. The play weaves together five short works (by local writers) into a single journey through the diverse suburbs of the city.

I’d sooooo love to see both these theatrical explorations, and after living in Melbourne for awhile, the second one sounds especially interesting. If you live there, or will be traveling through town, be sure to check out the lineup at fortyfivedownstairs, and tell us what you think.

Where on Earth? Week 27: Fraser Island, Australia

by Martha Edwards on

I predicted that you guys would get this one right off the bat, and you didn’t disapoint. Chris was the first one to correctly identify this as the Meheno shipwreck on Fraser Island in Australia, with an honorable mention to Paul, who thought it might be an abandoned Ikea store in Ames, Iowa. Close, but no cigar.

I knew this would be an easy one because the shipwreck, and Fraser Island itself, is one of the must-see attractions of Queensland. And I can see why — imagine an entire, habitable island that exists on basically a sand dune! Fraser Island has amazing beaches, beautiful vegetation, lots of dingos (good for pictures; bad for silly tourists who provoke them) and the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen on McKenzie Lake — I kid you not, it looks exactly like this, except with more tourists.

So, if you’re in Queensland, I would highly recommend Fraser Island. It’s a tourist trap, yes, but there’s a reason.